Today, amid great public attention, the DEME Group named and launched its 11,650m³ trailing suction hopper dredger BREUGHEL. The ceremony took place at the IHC Merwede shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel in the Netherlands.

At exactly 2 pm, the ship was successfully launched after its naming by Mrs Bernadette Prignon, President of the Liege Court of Appeal and wife of Mr Didier Reynders, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Institutional Reforms of the Belgian federal government.

The design, build and delivery contract between DEME N.V. and IHC Dredgers B.V. was signed in June 2010 and the new vessel’s keel was laid on 15 November 2010. The ship will sail in October 2011. The Breughel has been named after the famous Belgian Northern Renaissance painter.

With a hopper capacity of 11,650 m3 and a carrying capacity of 18,710 tons, this new ship fits perfectly into the trailing suction hopper dredger segment which includes the “Brabo” and “Breydel”, ships that were introduced into the fleet in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The “Breughel” has a 1,200 mm dredging pipe on the port side and will be able to dredge at depths of up to 43 m.

The “Breughel” was designed for dredging in both deep and shallow waters, providing extensive flexibility. Even with a maximum load, it will only have a draught of 8.15 m. With this ship, DEME again confirms that its fleet of dredging vessels offers the best carrying capacity/draught ratio in the dredging industry. It is an undisputable asset in terms of multi-use applications, from deployment for maintenance work in deltas to land reclamation projects with transport across large distances.

The high-tech ship combines all of the latest DEME innovations and developments in dredging technology and will be equipped with a direct pump-ashore installation and a nozzle for rainbowing purposes. The one-man bridge control on the BREUGHEL is equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art console, which combines dredging and sailing functions.

With its design focused on minimal CO2 emissions, this suction hopper dredger merits the label ‘best C02-emission/m3 ratio in its class’ and will consequently be awarded a Green Certificate.

Besides the BREUGHEL, DEME is currently building another eight, large and ultramodern dredgers and marine construction vessels: the 30,000 m³ mega suction hopper dredger “Congo River”, which will be named in Zeebrugge on 8 July 2011 alongside the DP2 fall pipe vessel “Flintstone”; the gravel trailer ‘Victor Horta’ that will be delivered in July 2011, the DP2 jack-up vessel “Neptune”; the 16,000 kW self-propelled cutter suction dredgers “Al Jarraf” and “Amazone”; the Ravestein 900 backhoe pontoon and the heavy-duty 28,000 kW self-propelled rock cutter suction dredger “Ambiorix”. All of these new vessels will provide DEME with one of the most advanced and efficient fleets in the world.

Additional information on the ‘Breughel’

Name BREUGHEL

Typetrailing suction hopper dredger

Principal DEME N.V.

Shipyard IHC Dredgers B.V.

Length o.a.121.50 m

Beam 28.00 m

Depth 9.80 m

Maximum dredging depth 28.00/43.00 m

Hopper capacity 11,650 m³

Diameter suction pipe1,200 mm

Accommodation14 persons

About DEME

The Belgian dredging and environmental group DEME is a conglomerate of enterprises with roots established more than one and a half centuries ago. The Group specializes in capital and maintenance dredging, port constructions and expansions, providing services to the oil and gas industry, wreckage clearing, deep-sea operations, the construction of offshore wind parks, plus a wide range of environmental activities – from water treatment and sludge recycling to soil remediation and the treatment of either lightly or heavily contaminated sedimentation.

DEME operates a modern, multi-functional and varied fleet of 90 large dredgers and some 200 auxiliary vessels. The company employs a 4,000 strong workforce. The Group is active worldwide – in 2010, it reported a turnover of EUR 1.8 billion and completed projects in 50 countries on all continents. Its current investment programme in high-tech equipment enables DEME to meet future challenges with an ultra-efficient and modern fleet.

Company profile IHC Merwede

IHC Merwede is focussed on the continuous development of design and construction activities for the specialist maritime sector. It is the global market leader for efficient dredging and mining vessels and equipment – with vast experience accumulated over decades – and a reliable supplier of custom-built ships and supplies for offshore construction.

IHC Merwede has in-house expertise for engineering and manufacturing innovative vessels and advanced equipment, as well as providing life-cycle support. Its integrated systematic approach has helped to develop optimum product performance and long-term business partnerships.

IHC Merwede has over 3,000 employees based at various locations in The Netherlands, China, Croatia, France, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Technological innovation will remain the company’s underlying strength through its continuous investment in research and development. Moreover, it helps to safeguard a sustainable environment.